Control mechanism



Feb. 27, 1945. W. PECHY I 2,370,187

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.BVMW/p. #Trae/V yf' Patented Feb. 27, 1945 CONTROL MECHANISM William Pechy, Manasquan, N. J., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 22, 1943, Serial No. 495,783

Claims.

This invention relates to feeding mechanism for advancing sheet material along a path of travel and has particular reference to a Irotary gauging device for testing the thickness of the sheets to detect abnormally thick sheets and sheets which stick together, the device immediately stopping the mechanism upon detection of such sheets so that they may be removed.

The instant invention contemplates a sheet gauging and stopping mechanism connected with an intermittently operating sheet feeder and includes a rotary device which gauges a sheet while it is at rest and determines the sheet thickness at a denite position on the sheets surface which position may be located at a Work station of a machine the mechanism allowing passage only of sheets having a normal, predetermined thickness.

An object of the inventionis the provision in an intermittent feeding mechanism of a sheet thickness gauging device and stop mechanism for' detecting and stopping the feeding of sheets having abnormal thickness and of sheets which stick or adhere together and which otherwise are fed as one, such device constituting a continuously rotating gauge which is so formed as to operate only against the surface of a sheet while the sheet is at rest.

Another object is the provision of such a mechanism wherein the thickness gauging device, cooperating with a movable stop member, calipers successive sheets advanced along a path of travel, allowing sheets of normal gauge thickness to pass but deflectingY sheets of abnormal thickness and double sheets sticking together, such deflection being had on an edge of the passing sheet, when such edge comes into engagement with and moves a detector lever to interrupt the feeding of the sheets, further feeding action being stopped until the abnormal or double sheet condition is cleared from the mechanism.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a feeding mechanism embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional detail of the testing station shown in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical section taken substantially along the' broken lines 4-4 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away, the view showing, a single sheet ofstandard thickness passing between elernents of the gauging device;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig; 4 with the gauge parts in a diierent position` and showing fragmentary portions of two stuck-together sheets interposed between the gauging'elements; and

Figs. 6 and '7 arefragmentary vertical sectional views taken substantially' along 4the respective section lines' 6 6 and 'I-l in Figs. 4 and 5 with parts broken away.

As a preferred embodimentof the invention the drawings illustrate the principal parts of a feeding mechanism for advancing fiat sheets or blanks into and through a can making machine for converting the blanks into can or container parts. In such a feeding mechanism the blanks, indicated by the letter A, Vare fed in a continuous procession and in an intermittent'or step-by-step manner along a predetermined path of travel which includes a testing or gauging station.

While a blank A is at rest at the testing station it is subjected to a testing operation for detecting sheets of abnormal thickness. The term abnormal, for the purpose of this specification, will be used to denote sheets'or blanks that are thicker than a predetermined normal thickness or sheets that are stuck together, as'double sheets, in which their combined thickness is greater than the normal. Thinner sheets or blanks will not be tested by this,mechanism. v

The blanks to be tested are advanced through the machine by a pair of spaced and parallel reciprocable feed bars Il (Figs. 1 and 3) which slide in longitudinal grooves I2 formed in a horizontal slide plate I3 secured to a table I4 of a frame I5 which may constitute the main frame of the machine. The feed bars carry a plurality of spaced depressible feed fingers or dogs I6 which engage behind the blanks.

The blanksare supported in a horizontal position on top of the feed bars II and on end guide rails i8 which are secured to the table I4. The rails extend in parallel relationalong the feed bars.

The feed bars I I are reciprocated in uniso through a forward or feeding stroke and thence through a return stroke by an upright actuating lever 2l which is mounted, at its lower end, on a pivot pin 22 carried in bearings 23 formed on the main frame I5. The upper end of the lever is connected by a link' 24 to a cross-head 25 which is secured to the feed bars and which ties ,theml together. The cross-head extends down through and operates in openings 26 formed in the slide plate I3 and in the frame table I4.

The actuating lever 2| is rocked in time with the other moving parts of the machine by an eccentric arm 28, one end of which is connected to the lever intermediate its ends. The'opposite end of the eccentric arm is formed with an eccentric strap 2;? which surrounds an eccentric 3| mounted on a cross-shaft 32 journaled in bearings 33 formed on the main frame I5. The shaft 32 constitutes the main driving shaft and may be rotated in any suitable manner.

On the forward stroke of the feed bars II, the feed fingers I6 progressively advance, the

vblanks through the various working and idle stations of the machine. On the return stroke of the feed bars the blanks are. held againstA re. turn movement by depressible hold back lingers which are located in a pair of stationary hold beek. bats 36. disposed. adjacent and parallel, with theE feed beite- Tfiie. hold book loers are Seated in longitudinal; grooves, 31: formed in the slide plete it daring. these return strokes of the feed bers. while. the blanks, are momentarily at rest., thattiie testing. 0f' @blank is. brought, abolit- Tiie testing of;v the. blanks.. for. abnormal. thickfiese ie Performed. on a predetermined aree on the Suifooe. of. oath blank, preferably neer one edge. dit end. thereof. and. is. eifeoted by. a testine or. sensing deyioe, located. adjacent the path of. tievelofjth blanke..- The gauging device. comprises a rotary actuating gauge disc 3 8 and` a pivoteily mounted detector element or lever 42 (Figs. 4 and 5,) .v Ijherotary gauge disc is located above end, et. one side of. the. beth of travel. of the. sheets The` sausedise. is. mounted. on e Shaft 43' thigh ioiirrieled; iii e bearing, 44 of e. bracket 45 secured, to the, table, I4..

'I 'herotary disc 38,is formed with a camshaped contour or periphery whioh inoiudes aA full; di-

emeter or enlarged. dessins. section. 46 (Fies- 4 and 5) endereduoeddieioetes or clearance seetion 4l- Iiie. reduoed Section. Permits. passage offtlie blanks t9. and, from. their gauging position.. as. they. adroneeeloria their. beth oiI travel:

Die@ 3.8., is.. eootinuoiiely 'rotated in time with the. other moving parte, of. the.V maehine and in time. with. the. edreriooment o f: the blanks, bi.' e bevel. eee-r. 4.3. whioii.. is.Y mounted on the gauge shaftt- 'lhesear48;.niesbeewith dodie driven by e bereidde?? 5.2 mounted. oo eolioit @rods She-it 53 journaled in bearings 54,55; o f the bracket 45. TheI Shaft is rotated. by. e. beveieeer. 56 mounted ootbiseiieft.

The beveieeer meslieewithend is driven by eI bevel, gear 5l mounted; on, e, Stub Shaft 5.8 journaled in a bearing 62 ofthe bracket 45. The stubshaft 5 8 is rotated;v by ajsprocket 613. (Fig. 3). Thissprocketisdriven b y a chain 64; whichoperates over a driving, sprocket 65n'1ounted on a jack shaft 66 journaledin bearings 6.1iformed in a bracket 58, mounted on the main frame I5. The jackshaft carries aA beveljgear 12 which meshes with anks driven, by a bevel gear 13 tom of the bracket 45. The bearing lugs are disposed in an opening 11 formed in the adjacent guide rail I8 along which the blanks travel and on which they are supported when they are at rest at the testing station or when they are passing through the testing station.

The detector lever 42 is formed with a short anvil leg 18 which extends inwardly and under the path of travel of the sheets substantially at right angles thereto and at a. locality just below the rotary gauge member (Fig. 6). This anvil leg is disposed in the opening 11 in a guide rail I8, with the top surface of the anvil leg disposed substantially flush with the blank supporting surfaceof the `guide rail. The lever member is alsoformed with an extension or movement multipl-ying arm 1.9. which extends away from the blanks` and is disposed in a recess in the bottom of the bracket 45.

In the normal position of the detector 42, as best shown in Fig. 4, the top face of its inner or anvil end, 18 just clears the bottom surface of the blanks as they passl thereover, While the outer arm 19 engages against a stop pin BI which is secured' in theV carrier plate 1,6. A spring pressed plunger 82 disposed in a vertical bore in the 'bracket 45` and' located above the lever arm 19, yieldably holds the lever in this position. In this normal position the outer end of the lever arrn 19 engages against a movable element 83 of a normally closed' electric switch 84 bolted tothe bracket 45.

In operation, the space, between the gauging section 46 of the rotating` gauge member 3B and the tOp i398 of` the anvil leg 18 of the detector 42 is equal to the thickness o f a normal blank. Hence when anormal thickness blank momentarily stops at the testing station, the rotating disc 3,8J j ust clears the blank, as shown in Figs. 4 andV 6, and' nothingvhappens. Such a blank is permitted to, advance further through the -rnachineon the succeeding feed stroke of the bars I I.

When an abnormal. thickness blank or when two or more blanks are stuck together and are advanced intoposition at the gauging station, the enlarged or gauging section 46 ofv the rotating gauge member 38 strikes the top of the blank or blanksanddeiiectsor forces a portion` of the same down into theopeningj] of the guide rail I 8r as, shown in Figs. 5 and 'LV This, deflection of theabnormally presented blank o r blanksis, very slight and1 takes place at thecut-away edge of the` guide, rail alJ'a ,3 d Iit the opening 11, the rail edge` acting, as afulcrurn so .that these portions of theblanks are moi/ ed outof the supporting plane ofI they guide rail' andL are pressed down against,4 the anvil; lesr 1 8 of the detector lever. ThisA rocks thev leverl and liftsits outer arm 19 against the resistance of the spring` plunger 82. Lifting of the outer arm of, the detector lever presses theI movable. element 8,3,y of the electric switch, 84, inwardly and thus opens the switch.

The electricswitch 8,4' is4 part of a motor circuit-,1Q (Fig. 4), which includes a machinedriving motor 85;` and asourceof electric energy such as a generator 86" as indicatedjin the wiring diagram of Fig.I 4. Electricvenergy fromA the generator normally flowsthrough the circuit along a wire 81, motor 85, a Wire 88, switch 84, wire 89normally closedservice switchI, and returns to the generator by a, wire 9 2; When this circuit ls broken by the opening of the switch 84, the motor,- 85 stops. This stops thel machine. The xrlachinewillv remain inoperative until the abnormal blanks are removed manually. from` the gauging station. Upon removal of the abnormal blanks, the detector lever returns to its normal position, and this closes the electric switch 84 so that operations may be again resumed.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be inderstood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

l. In a mechanism for gauging sheets to detect abnormal thickness, the combination of a stationary guide along which sheets are advanced for gauging, a movable detector located on one side of said guide adjacent the path of travel of a said sheet and having a part extending into sheet gauging position, a rotary gauge having a fixed axis located on the opposite side of the path of travel of said sheet and having an enlarged peripheral section spaced from said guide a distance equal to anormal thickness sheet when said peripheral section moves into sheet gauging position, the peripheral section of said gauge deiiecting an abnormal thickness sheet while in said gauging position and moving said detector, and means operated by said -detector when it moves for indicating the presence of such an abnormal sheet.

2. In a mechanism for gauging sheets to detect abnormal thickness, the combination of a feed table for supporting advancing sheets to be gauged, a pivotal detector lever located adjacent said-table and having a leg at one end in sheet gauging position, and having an extension arm at the other end, a rotary gauge having a fixed axis located opposite said detector lever so that the advancing sheets pass between the gauge and leg, said gauge having an enlarged peripheral section spaced from said detector lever a distance equal to a normal thickness sheet when said peripheral section moves into sheet gauging position, the peripheral section of said gauge deflecting an abnormal thickness sheet passing said gauging position and moving the leg of said` detector lever, and means engageable by said extension arm upon movement of said detector lever for indicating the presence of such abnormal sheet. I

3. In a mechanism for gauging sheets to detect abnormal thickness, the combination of a stationary guide along which sheets are advanced intermittently for gauging, a movable detector located on one side of said guide adjacent the path of travel of a said sheet, a rotary gauge having a xed axis located on the opposite side of the path of travel of said sheet and having enlarged and reduced peripheral sections, said enlarged section being spaced from said guide a distance equal. to a normal thickness sheet when it moves into sheet gauging position opposite said detector and when a sheet being gauged is at for intermittently advancing the sheets, a detector lever located in said table and having an anvil leg at one end with an engageable-surface disposed in the plane of the table top, a continuously rotatable shaft located above said table top, means for operating said feeding device and said gauge shaft in synchronism, a disc gauge mounted on said shaft and having a gauging section projecting beyond its normal periphery and moving opposite the engageable surface of said detector anvil leg With a space therebetween equal to a normal thickness sheet, an abnormal thickness sheet being moved in part out of the normal path of travel of the sheets and against the engageable surface of said leg by said disc gauge thereby shifting said detector lever, and a stop device located adjacent said detector lever and operable by the movement thereof for nullifying said loperating means to stop further feeding of said sheets When such an abnormal thickness'sheet is encountered.

5. In a mechanism for feeding and gauging sheets to detect abnormal thickness, the combinatlon of a feed table for supporting the sheets, a detector lever located in said table, a feeding device operable along said table for successively advancing the sheets in processional order past said detector lever, a rotatable disc gauge located above said table and having a gauging section moving in spaced relation to said detector lever at a distance substantially equal to a normal thickness sheet, means for continuously rotating said disc independently of and in synchronism with the advancement of the sheets relative thereto, said disc being engageable with and adapted to deect an abnormal thickness sheet against Said detector lever to move the same, an electric circuit including electric means for operating said feeding device and said gauge, and an electric switch connected into said electric circuit and operable by said detector lever to break said circuit to stop the operation of said feeding device until the abnormal sheet is removed.

' 4WILLIAM PECHY. 

